This was my first home in Los Angeles, after migrating from the mid-west at the young age of 18, and arriving on a Greyhound bus to have a new beginning in the city of the angel's. I lived in Echo Park [on the 700 block of Bonnie Brae] for approximately eight years, and those were my fondest memories, especially the ducks, geese and swans at the lake and the "grasshopper" type oil wells just down the street and around Belmont High School.

My landlady, Haytivik Viola Smith, adopted me as her unofficial nephew and was my spiritual aunt until her death in 1979. Besides my natural mother, she was my greatest inspiration, through her loving kindness to me and many other people in the community. She became an artist after retiring from the Federal Government downtown, and her specialty was painting on Japanese silk with India ink. Perhaps, someone may remember her when walking her black Labrador Retriever around the lake. Our neighbors across the street were Bertha Smith and her niece Sylvia Smith(no relation).

Since someone decided to eliminate the login box, and I am unable to login and make corrections, I want to make some corrections to my original post.

Sylvia Smith's Auntie's name was Bertha Hill. Sylvia lived with her Auntie at 710 N. Bonnie Brae, directly across the street from where I lived at 711 N. Bonnie Brae.On the same lot and same owner-Haytivik Viola Smith, just next to 711 N. Bonnie Brae is a small cottage which had an address of 709 N. Bonnie Brae.For some unknown reason, 711 (2 story house) was changed to 709 address.Since 1979 when Haytivik died, there have been several owners.

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